Rishi Panchami is celebrated on Tuesday 6th September in 2016. Rishi Panchami festival is celebrated on the 5th day of the bright lunar half of the Bhadrapada month (August – September). Bhadrapada Shukla Panchami is known as Rishi Panchami. Rishi Panchami celebrated on the next day of Ganesh Chaturdi. Rishi Panchami is celebrated in honor of the great mythological sages (Sapta Rishis are the Atri, Vishvamitra, Kashyapa, Vashishta, Jamadagni, Gauthama and Bharadhvaja) who inspired people to discover their true self and the pious efforts of Saptarishi that made the human life better, which is also known a Brahma Gyan. The fasting is dedicated to Lord Shiva. The fast is broken after the Rishi Panchami Pooja.

Rishi Panchami 2016

Procedure of Rishi Panchami :

On the auspicious day of Rishi Panchami, a ritual bath is taken in holy rivers, ponds. Now a days we don't find rivers so we can take bath in home with cold water. Then Hands and mouth is washed 108 times. Lord Ganesh, Navagraha, Sapta Rishi's and Arundathi are worshiped. Women offer the Prasad to Gods and wash husbands feet. In fasting Eat fruit only one time in the day. The fasting is dedicated to Lord Shiva and is also undertaken by men in some regions. Rishi Panchami is also celebrated as Bhai Panchami on that day sisters tie Rakhi to their brothers hand and pray for their long life and prosperity and happiness in their life. The Rakhi must be in Red, Yellow or Orange color. In morning they do Bhai Panchami Pooja. They make Seven brothers with seven small sticks and white cloth and a white thread to tie clothes to the sticks. And then they make one sister with a small stick and a red cloth and moli to tie it. The tradition of observing this Vrat, is to express respect, gratitude and remembrance of the great deeds of those ancient Rishi's, who devoted their life for the welfare of the society. Observing Rishi Panchami fasting makes the devotee free from all sins committed in the Present and Past life. Rishi Panchami is a way to find peace and sanctification (a religious ceremony in which something is made holy) of soul, mind and body. The one and only purpose of Rishi Panchami is to sanctify a person completely.

Significance of Rishi Panchami :

Lord Brahma himself narrated the story of Rishi Panchami. According to another legend that was told by Lord Krishna to Yudhisthir. Rishi Panchami is more famous in Nepali Hindus. The term Rishi denotes Sage and the term Panchami signifies the fifth day. Rishi Panchami is also known as Rushi Panchami. Rishi Panchami is not a festival but a fasting day observed by women to pay obeisance to the Sapta Rishi's which means seven sages and to get purified from Rajaswala Dosha. Hinduism gives highest priority to purity and there are strict guidelines to maintain purity of the body and the soul. Rishi Panchami fasting is advised to get rid of Rajaswala Dosha. This Vrat is especially for the women, however there is no distinction between men and women in the eyes of the Rishi's. Herbs are used for the outer purification, whereas a mixture of curd, milk, basil and butter is drank to purify the soul.